914/6 - 914.043.1902 build log

[dug]

I'm still finishing the parts preparation currently. But it's just about time to start building up my 914-6. Here is a pic of it surrounded by it's parts:
http://www.project914.com/plogger/thumbs/lrg-799-dsc_0046.jpg

Here are the refreshed S calipers I just got back from Eric Shea.
They are simply stunning:
http://www.project914.com/plogger/thumbs/lrg-795-dsc_0001.jpg

He's got my 914-6 rears now to be spread for vented rotors and rebuilt.
I put the poly-bronze bushings on the rear trailing arms the same day Randy did his. Next I need to powder coat the A-arms and install the pb's on those too.

cheers,
dug

[sixerdon]

Nice Project. I used to own #1900 30 years ago. It was Irish green with the tan interior. Sold it to a guy here in MA in '81. Never heard of it again.
Don

[dug]

I think tonite I made a decision. I'm going to put the flares on now, even though I can't afford the repaint at the moment. It doesn't make sense to wait when the car is in the state it's in. I'm going whole hog.

Maybe it was these beautiful tires that I will have to buy to make sure everything fits just right. Not my image, but they are even pictured on some cookie cutters.
http://snydermotorsports.tripod.com/temp/944/r888_3.jpg

I loved the Toyo RA-1 on my SpecMiata and the new Toyo R-888 look even better and are reported to be even stickier.

There is another decision to make though. I have 4 NOS 15x8 fuchs.
Should I go with
225/45ZR15 87W
20lbs, 9inch tread, 22.8 diameter
or
225/50ZR15 91W
22lbs, 9 inch tread, 23.7 diameter

There is also a
235/50ZR15 94W
24lbs, 9 inch tread, 24.2 diameter

The lower 45 profile makes the gearing even lower than a 205/50 and they are 2lbs lighter! Why pay for expensive lower gears, when you can just buy smaller tires and then switch back if you want higher gearing without rebuilding your tranny again:)

The 235 sounds like a wider tire, but they all list a 9 inch tread depth. It is also closer to the stock diameter for taller freeway cruising, but it weight 4lbs more than the 225/45, and weight is everything to me. You can see the complete specs for the R888s here:
http://toyotires.com/tire/pattern/proxes-r888

cheers,
dug

[dug]

This is a repost of pics of my calipers that Eric Shea is spreading for me. Yeah I said spread, huhuhuh huh huh, this is 914 porn!

http://www.project914.com/plogger/images/my_cars/1970_914-6_-_9140431902_-_lightivory/gtcaliperparts.jpg

[dug]

Found some more GT goodies for my build today at a 356/912 swap meet in Burlingame... A oil catch tank (washer fluid bottle from a 912) and two Bosch switches used on the dash for the dual ignition.

I also received this 80mm cap I found on the samba this week, it turned out to be aluminum! Eric Shea located a 80mm neck that came with my rear calipers. He also will be sending me the 100mm neck and cap pictures with the four hole fin attached, as well as the spacers for under the rear rotors to align them properly with the spread calipers. Eric rocks!

[dug]

Here is a complete list of the GT parts that will be on my car when I'm finished:

- GT flares (steel factory NOS)
- GT door panels (factory NOS - thanks Glenn!)
- 911S front calipers (restored by Eric)
- GT rear calipers (914-6 calipers restored/vented by Eric)
- Koni S front struts
- Koni rear double-adjustable dampers
- 15x8 Fuchs (NOS - from Mark Heard)
- GT bumpers (repro)
- GT rockers (repro)
- GT front valence (repro)
- rubber latches for rear decklid
- GT 80mm oil filler (repro - aluminum cap)
- GT 100mm fuel filler (repro - thanks Eric!)
- Rubber mats (from 914-4 #979)
- Momo prototipo
- Bosch coil switches
- VDO 60mm fuel gauge
- VDO 250kph speedo gauge
- VDO Oel Temp/Druck gauge
- VDO 10k Tachometer
- 46 IDA Webers
- Early 911S dark-red engine shroud
- 912 washer bottle oil catch tank
- Front oil cooler (RX7 modified with -16 fittings)

The parts I'd like to find, but don't have yet:
- Mechanical head-light raisers
- GT seats (I'll probably use repros from GTS seats)
- Fiberglass hood and trunk (I'll get repros, but from who?)


The parts I'm not going to do because it's just too much:
- Factory style oil thermostat setup (I'll use the later style thermostat)
- GT brass oil lines (I'm just going to run them up the heater tube)
- 100liter tank (I have a fuel-safe 914 fuel cell instead)
- 906 engine (the 3.2SS with S cams will be just fine:))

[Eric_Shea]

Looks like we now have some 80mm tabs coming! :D

Look for Mark Bartosh for the glass hoods. He surfaces occasionally in Pano and has great fit and finish. Otherwise, MA Shaw is rumoured to have the best production glass.

E.

[Eric_Shea]

While reading... not sure if I mentioned it but:

Polybronze - For the fronts, JB Weld the races on "before" you powdercoat. Have the powdercoater tape them and then coat the arms.

This will help because you won't have to sand off the powder to get the races on afterward. The JB Weld holds up to 500+ degrees.

[JKH]

Mark Bartosh does Lids with balsa.

[gms]

Mark Bartosh does Lids with balsa.

Does he use German herringbone fiberglass?

[Dave_Darling]

Someone on the 914world website was doing a repop of the mechanical/pneumatic headlight raisers. I think the group buy is closed, but you may be able to pick up one of the units from it.

--DD

[dug]

Got some pics of my gauges tonite...

[dug]

I also got the motor up on the stand, pulled the 911 heater boxes and tin off and mocked it up with the headers and fiberglass "tin" I'm planning to use. Gotta love those little screens on the 46 webers, and that's the 226mm fan from the 78-79 SC. I need a single belt pulley though.

[dug]

Someone on the 914world website was doing a repop of the mechanical/pneumatic headlight raisers. I think the group buy is closed, but you may be able to pick up one of the units from it.

--DD

Thanks Dave, I went and looked up that thread and found it here:
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=61666&hl=headlight%20%20mechanical&st=0

Seems like a fiasco that has been going on for 3 years. The checks people wrote for the group buy have never been cashed, and the guy can't find gas struts that are weak enough to not bend the headlight doors? Sounds like a lost cause.

But in this post, someone included a pic of the MittelMotor kit. I emailed them to ask for a photo a couple months ago, but got no reply. Looks pretty good. Without VAT, it's only 335 euros. Not cheap, but not outrageous either.
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?act=Attach&type=post&id=160200

cheers,
dug

[dug]

Looks like we now have some 80mm tabs coming! :D

Look for Mark Bartosh for the glass hoods. He surfaces occasionally in Pano and has great fit and finish. Otherwise, MA Shaw is rumoured to have the best production glass.

E.

Thanks Eric, I found your post on the world with his info:
Mark Bartosh
P.O. Box 3432
Running Springs, CA 92382
909-867-9330

[Dave_Darling]

Sorry, dug--I hadn't been keeping up on the headlight thread on the 'world. I knew it had been talked about, but not what the current status was. Sounds like the MM kit may be the way to go, then.

--DD

[dug]

Looks like we now have some 80mm tabs coming! :D

E.

I almost missed this! Count me in!

dug

[dug]

Went to the Norcal trans rebuild clinic. Dr.Evil is a nut, and a great guy.

The first box I tore into with the numbers that match my chassis was pretty clean, but turned out it had mega short gears inside A-GA-Ka-Q-V. I got its gear stack all torn down, cleaned and rebuilt up, but when I put it together I got the Q and the Ka (flipped ZD backwards).

So, rather than tear that one apart again, I ripped open the second 914-6 trans I had. This one was a bit dirtier, but I found stock A-GA-O-V-ZA gears inside. So I built this whole stack up and got the shift forks aligned. I didn't get the case cleaned during the class, but over the holidays, I got it finished and it's pretty much buttoned up now.

I will revisit the other box soon and possible change the ratios to something like A-GA-M-S-Z. I've got an S already.

cheers,
dug

[dug]

Then later during the holidays, Randy helped me get the chassis off the wooden cart it came on. It's down on jack stands now where I can actually drop it once the engine and suspension are attached.

[dug]

A few more bits of 914-6 and GT here and there. An 912 washer bottle I picked up at a swap meet in burlingame. Nice and dirty, like a catch tank should be. A 914-6 washer bottle. A 996 spare tire. And I'm thinking of using this 67S shroud, it's a nice deep red. The SC shroud currently on the car isn't very nice. It will need some cleaning though. Found some good info on the early S registry.

[dug]

Today I bought four $12 mechanical bathroom scales. I put scales under the jack stands. Each jack stand weighed ~12lbs. The jack stands are under the four donuts. I didn't even try get the floor, jacks or chassis completely level, but the weights on the corners were:

LF 107
RF 109
LR 169
RR 163

So, a 1970 914-6 body in white as they say, weighs... Drum roll please...
550lbs.

This is with absolutely nothing attached to the chassis except early doors, not even striker plates. No front hood, no engine lid, no rear trunk lid, no glass, etc.

It is my intention going forward to weigh every component I mount to the car.

cheers,
dug

[gms]

That is awesome Dug, I always wondered what the weight of an empty shell was.

[jim dorociak]

dug, I opened the box of AA flares - great packing job and they arrived safely and in VGC. More pictures please, it is one of the reasons I visit this site. Great project. Jim

[dug]

I should have also mentioned that this chassis has undercoat and the interior still has some tar on the tunnel and the longs. It would not surprise me that without doors and with all the undercoat removed it could be under 500lbs.

Anyone have a bare early door they could weigh so we can subtract?

cheers,
dug

[dug]

Made a tad more progress. This is just a test fit up of the engine and trans so that I can figure out all the plumbing of the oil cooler, fuel lines and wiring harness..

I will also be bolting on suspension and setting the ride height so that I can see it on the ground when lining up the flares.

Here the engine is slowing making it's way under the car with it's entourage of jack and furniture dollys to keep it's balance.

[dug]

Starting to go up.
I had to both lift the engine with a jack til it maxed out and then lower the car.
Fortunately, with this huge cherry picker tied to the shock towers, it's easy.

[dug]

There's not a lot of room. The front has to be constantly adjusted because as it is raised, it moves rearward. And you can see how perfectly the sides sneak by. Just go slowwww.

[dug]

She's home!
Amazing how little room is left at the air cleaners with the tall manifolds and yet it fits! My pulse quickened when I put the engine lid over it.
I could look at this all day:)

dug

[Robby]

Oh that is beautiful!

[Randy]

Nice work!